INSIGHTS INTO HISTAMINE ROLE IN CELL MIGRATION AND MATRIX REMODELING: SPECIAL FOCUS ON TUMOR BIOLOGY

GRACIELA P CRICCO; NORA A MOHAMAD; GABRIELA A MARTÍN

Advances in Medicine and Biology

Nova Science Publishers

Año: 2012; p. 29 - 50

Histamine is an endogenous biogenic amine that exerts pleiotropic functions in physio and pathologic processes in diverse tissues. Numerous reports show a relevant role of histamine in tumor development and progression. It is well known that a wide range of neoplastic tissues and cell lines express histamine receptors through which histamine regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, survival and death. Additionally some effects on tumor growth may be mediated by histamine regulation of angiogenesis and immune response. During the last decade histamine and antihistamines have been described to have a modulatory effect on epithelial and endothelial cell adhesion and on the expression and activity of different matrix metalloproteinases. It has also been reported a stimulatory action on migration of fibroblasts, haematopoietic and immune cells, mainly via the activation of H4 receptors. However most of these reports refer to normal cells, existing less information with regard to malignant cells. In this chapter we attempt to summarize current evidence about histamine regulation of cell migration and events related to matrix remodeling specially focusing on tumor cells, since these are early cellular processes involved in metastatic capacity. The identification of pharmacological agents that target oncogenic pathways which may regulate tumor cell proliferation and/or survival and simultaneously may control metastatic ability will help to delineate more effective strategies for therapeutic intervention in malignant diseases.